PocketShip.net

>>>I've read about people putting counter-top laminate (Formica) on the inside of the centerboard trunk to give the centerboard a nice, slick surface to rub against.
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The specified epoxy surface, sanded smooth, is very very very hard. I would place a tall wager that it will never wear out.

A coating of epoxy mixed with graphite will make it harder still, but it's a ton of effort.

Somewhere I have a can of powdered Teflon that, mixed with epoxy, might make a really hard, slick surface.

But based on five years of sailing PocketShip #1, there's no sign that the smooth epoxy faces of the centerboard trunk are wearing at all. One of these days I'm going to hoist my boat with CLC's forklift and get a look at the centerboard to see how it's doing. It's hit bottom everywhere from Maine to Puget Sound and many spots between.

See links below for some photos of what I did back in June (I brought this up in an earlier post). I used an epoxy/graphite mix to coat the inside of the centerboard case before assembly. I applied 2 coats of this over 3 coats of pure epoxy. The stuff sands out to a very smooth, slippery, tough surface. The flat surface was easy to sand. The whole operation was pretty simple.

Based on what I could find online I settled on a ratio of 1 level teaspoon of graphite powder to 1 fluid oz. of epoxy.

Enjoying the build,
Bob

http://www.flickr.com/photos/109064038@N08/10911032623/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/109064038@N08/10910762506/

Looks great! Too bad it will never be seen again.

I also remembered the suggestion in the manual to add a strip of epoxy along the leading edge of the centerboard. Seems like the graphite idea would be good there too.

I installed rub strips on my kayak that incorporate the graphite powder and also dynel cloth. Maybe that would be the way to go (on the leading edge of the centerboard, not inside the trunk). It has certainly held up well on the yak.